Tea keeper and infuser

ABSTRACT

A tea keeper includes a container having an outer wall and defining a container volume, an inner sleeve positioned within the container and forming an airtight barrier which separates the container volume into an internal space and a peripheral space, a removable lid enclosing the internal space, a removable base enclosing the peripheral space, and an infuser removably stored in the peripheral space.

PRIORITY CLAIM

This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application No. 62/145,130, filed Apr. 9, 2015, the contents of which are incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to devices for storing and infusing tea.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many people enjoy drinking tea, and prefer to use loose tea and an infuser rather than pre-packaged tea bags. Tea is best when brewed shortly before consuming it, and for that reason it is preferable to be able to store tea in a dry form, separate from hot water, until it is ready to be used. When using loose tea, this also means using an infuser to hold the loose tea. Commonly, the tea and infuser are separate items that are stored separately from one another, typically in different locations, with tea being stored with food items and infusers being stored with kitchen tools. A tea drinker may waste time looking for an infuser among other kitchen utensils because the infuser generally cannot be stored in the same container with the tea. There is presently no convenient device for holding both a tea infuser and loose tea in the same container.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a device for storing tea, preferably including loose tea. In addition, a preferred version of the present invention incorporates a tea infuser which may be stored in a separate receptacle but within the same container that houses the stored tea.

In one version, the tea keeper comprises a container having an outer wall and defining a container volume, an inner sleeve positioned within the container and forming an airtight barrier which separates the container volume into an internal space and a peripheral space, a removable lid enclosing the internal space, a removable base enclosing the peripheral space, and an infuser removably stored in the peripheral space.

In one example, the infuser further comprises infuser sidewalls extending upward from an infuser base to define an infuser volume, the infuser sidewalls terminating in an open rim.

In one example, the sleeve is received within the infuser volume when the infuser is stored in the peripheral space.

In one version, the infuser includes a pair of handles, each of the pair of handles being moveable between a stored position adjacent the infuser sidewalls and an extended position extending away from the infuser sidewalls.

In one version, the pair of handles are selectively lockable in the extended position.

In one version the open rim of the infuser is flared outwardly.

In a preferred version, the peripheral space further comprises a shoulder, the rim of the infuser abutting the shoulder when the infuser is stored in the peripheral space.

In one version, the internal diameter of the container is also preferably substantially equal to the outer diameter of the rim, so that the infuser is snugly received within the width of the container.

In one version peripheral space further comprises a height from the shoulder to the removable base, the infuser having an infuser height such that the infuser is snugly received within the peripheral space when the infuser is stored in the peripheral space.

In some versions, the inner sleeve and the container are integrally formed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred and alternative examples of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the following drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a preferred tea keeper and infuser, shown fully assembled and enclosed.

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the tea keeper and infuser of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a container for use with a preferred tea keeper and infuser.

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the tea keeper and infuser of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a preferred tea keeper and infuser, taken along line 5-5 in FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a top perspective view of a preferred infuser for use with a tea keeper and infuser.

FIG. 7 is a front elevational view of the preferred infuser of FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A preferred tea keeper and infuser includes a container 20, such as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, configured to receive and retain loose tea and an infuser. The container as illustrated is configured with an outer sidewall forming an upright cylinder and defining a container volume, though in other versions the container may have a different shape. In one version, the container includes a removable base 70 and a removable lid 10.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, in which the lid and base are both removed from the container, the container includes an internal sleeve 23 forming an interior space or cavity 22 within the container, and therefore subdividing a portion of the container volume into the interior space. An upper portion of the container 20 terminates in a neck 21, which preferably is also a juncture of the inner sleeve and outer container sidewalls. In the preferred version, the neck 21 is configured to mate with the lid 10 to seal the container, including the inner sleeve. In one example, the neck of the container and the rim of the lid are configured with mating threads in order to secure the lid to the container via the mating threads.

In one example, the lid is formed from polypropylene. The container is preferably constructed from polypropylene, though in other versions it may be constructed from other materials. In a preferred version, the container and sleeve are integrally formed from teh same material. Alternatively, in some versions the outer container sidewalls may be formed from a first material such as polypropylene while the inner sleeve 23 may be formed from a different material such as stainless steel.

As best seen in the sectional view of FIG. 5, the internal sleeve 23 is preferably concentrically spaced inward from the outer container sidewalls 24 in order to define a generally cylindrical peripheral space 26 between the internal sleeve and the outer container sidewall. A bottom portion of the sleeve 23 is preferably also spaced apart from the bottom 73 of the base 70, creating a lower portion of the peripheral space 26. As such, the peripheral space 26 within the container substantially surrounds the interior space 22, with the interior space and peripheral space being separated by the sleeve 23. As described further below, an infuser 90 is configured to fit between the internal sleeve 23 and outer container sidewall 24 (that is, in the peripheral space 26) for storage, while the interior volume 22 of the internal sleeve is configured to receive and store tea. Most preferably, the sleeve is mounted to the container such that it provides an airtight barrier between the interior space and thee peripheral space.

The outer container sidewall terminates in an open bottom 24, facilitating access to the interior space 26 between the inner sleeve 23 and the outer container sidewall. The base 70 is configured to be removably attached to the bottom portion of the container 20 in order to enclose the interior space 26 within the container 20. In the illustrated example, the base is formed as a short cylinder having a floor or bottom portion 73 and upwardly extending walls terminating in an upper rim 71. The rim of the base is configured to mate with the bottom portion 24 of the container 20 in order to secure the base to the container. In the illustrated example, the base and the container are sized to provide a friction fit between the base and the container to hold the base against the container. In one version, the rim 71 of the base 70 may be formed with an inward step forming a shoulder to abut against the lower edge of the open bottom of the container sidewall. In other versions, the base and container may be attachable using other means, such as by mating threads. In one example, the base may be formed from a thermoplastic elastomer to facilitate the press-fit relationship with the container and to provide a non-skid foundation to the device. In other versions, the base may be formed from other materials such as polypropylene.

An infuser 90 is configured to fit within the container for storage and for steeping loose tea in a cup or other container of hot water when in use. In the illustrated example, as best seen in FIGS. 4, 6 and 7, the preferred infuser 90 includes an infuser body 50 attached to an infuser base 60. In one version the infuser body 50 is formed with sidewalls extending up from the base and terminating in an open rim to define an interior infuser volume, so that the sleeve 23 is received within the infuser volume when the infuser is stored in the container (such as in the position of FIG. 5). The infuser body is generally cylindrical in shape, though in the illustrated example the diameter of the cylinder at the upper rim is greater than at the base. The upper edge of the infuser is sandwiched between an infuser rim 30 and an infuser ring 40, as described further below.

In one example, the infuser body 50 is formed from stainless steel, which is preferably 0.25 mm thick. The infuser body contains a number of holes 51 to allow water to flow through the infuser body. In one example of the invention, the infuser body is divided into four regions about the circumference of the cylindrical infuser body, each of the four regions being formed with a plurality of holes that may be created by etching, for example. Vertical bands (e.g., 52) are provided between the etched regions having through-holes in order to provide enhanced strength for the infuser body.

The infuser base 60 is also preferably formed from stainless steel, and includes a bottom portion having etched through-holes 61 (see FIG. 4) as with the infuser body. The bottom portion of the infuser base transitions to an upwardly-extending sidewall which preferably does not include through holes. The infuser base 60 is preferably welded to the infuser body 50 to form the infuser, in which the infuser contains a plurality of small through-holes in the bottom and the sidewalls as described above.

The preferred infuser is also preferably configured with an upper rim 30 which flares upwardly and outwardly. The infuser rim may be formed from any of a variety of materials suitable for use in the high temperature environment, such as various plastics including thermoplastic polymers. An infuser sleeve 40 is similarly formed, and configured to mount to the upper portion of the infuser body. In the illustrated example, the upper edge of the infuser body 50 is sized and configured to fit snugly between the infuser sleeve 40 (which surrounds an outer portion of the upper edge of the infuser body) and the infuser upper rim 30 (which fits within the inner portion of the upper edge of the infuser body). In one example, the rim 30 and sleeve 40 are sonic-welded together in order to permanently sandwich the infuser body to the rim and the sleeve.

In one example, the infuser also includes one or more handles such as handles 41, 42 mounted to the infuser sleeve which is carried on the upper end of the infuser. The exemplary handles are formed from stainless steel wire which is bent to a desired U-shape as illustrated, though in other versions the handles may be formed from other materials and in other shapes.

Most preferably, the handles are mounted to the upper end of the infuser, and the infuser ring or infuser rim are preferred mounting surfaces. As illustrated for example in FIG. 6, the infuser rim 30 is configured with a pair of bosses 32, 34 positioned on a peripheral location along the rim, each of the bosses having a horizontal through-hole (e.g., 31) to receive a terminal end of a U-shaped wire handle. Accordingly, the wire handle (e.g., 42) is attached to the bosses for pivotal movement within the bosses. A central projection 33 is positioned between the bosses 32, 34 and sized to extend into the interior U-shape of the handle, between the uprights, to impede movement of the uprights of the U-shaped handle too closely toward one another at which point they may become dislodged from the bosses, which would allow the handle to be removed altogether.

The sleeve 40 preferably includes a shelf 46 carried on an outer peripheral end of the sleeve, positioned beneath the projection 33 of the infuser rim 30 when the sleeve is attached to the rim. The shelf 46 is preferably somewhat wider than the projection (that is, it extends along a longer portion of the circumference of the upper rim of the infuser). Accordingly, the uprights of the U-shaped handle are supported by the shelf in order to allow the handle to extend outwardly in a generally horizontal direction. The upper rim 30 also is preferably formed with a horizontally extending flange positioned between the projection 33 and the bosses 32, 34, in order to impede upward rotational movement of the U-shaped handles when in the horizontal position. Thus, the flange and the shelf serve to hold the handle in a horizontal position, extending radially outward from the infuser.

The above description is provided with respect to one handle 42 and its attachment to the infuser. A second handle support structure is provided on the infuser at a diametrically opposite position, preferably configured in the same manner, to allow attachment of a second handle 41.

The handles 41, 42 are pivotally mounted to the rim of the infuser, preferably as described above. As such, they are selectively configurable between a stowed position in which the handles are positioned generally adjacent to the sidewall of the infuser body 50 (as shown in the sectional view), and an extended position in which they extend radially outward from the infuser. In one version, the shelf 46 includes a pair of lateral recesses 45 having a shape that receives a portion of the handle when in the stowed position. In order to move the handle from the extended position to the stowed position, the uprights of the U-shaped handle are urged apart somewhat, moving the uprights outward to clear the handle from the width of the shelf. The handle is then rotated downward into the stowed position, wherein the natural spring force of the U-shaped handle moves the uprights of the U inward again so that they are snugly received within the lateral recesses. Accordingly, the lateral recesses retain the handle in the stowed position until the handles are pried upward again by a user.

In use, a desired quantity of tea (preferably including loose tea) can be stored within the interior volume 22 defined by the internal sleeve 23 of the container 20. The loose tea may be accessed by removing the lid 10, and stored to retain freshness by securing the lid.

The infuser 90 is stored within the cylindrical internal cavity 26 formed between the sleeve 23 and the outer wall of the container 20. As illustrated, the handles 41, 42 are rotated into the stowed position for storage, allowing the infuser and its handles to fit within the internal space. Once the infuser is in position, the base 70 can be attached to the container to seal the infuser within the container. Thus, the container houses loose tea in a first internal volume 22 and houses an infuser in a second internal volume 26, separated from the first internal volume by the sleeve 23.

Most preferably, an upper shoulder 62 is formed within the peripheral space 26, and in one version it is formed in the sidewall or at a juncture of the sidewall and the sleeve 23, as best seen in FIG. 5. An upper edge of the rim 30 is sized to abut the shoulder 62 when the infuser is stored within the peripheral space. Most preferably, the outer diameter D1 of the rim 30 is approximately equal to or only slightly less than the interior diameter of the walls of the container 20 at the location of the shoulder 62, so that the rim is received with a close fit within the peripheral space. Likewise, preferably the height of the peripheral space from the base 73 to the lower edge of the shoulder 62 is approximately equal to the height H1 of the infuser, so that the infuser is relatively snugly received within the internal space when the base is attached.

In order to make tea with the infuser and stored tea, the base is removed from the container and the infuser is removed from the container. The handles 41, 42 are rotated upward approximately 90 degrees from the stowed to the deployed positions. In the deployed positions, the handles are prevented from rotating farther upward, and therefore the handles extend outwardly in order to support the infuser over the top of a cup. Thus, the handles can be placed atop the rim of the cup so that the infuser extends downward into the cup (or a pot or other vessel capable of holding hot water), with the infuser being suspended across the rim of the cup by the handles. In one example of the invention, the height from the base of the infuser to the handles is less than the depth of a standard cup for containing tea, so that the bottom of the infuser does not contact the bottom of the cup when the infuser is placed atop the cup.

As desired by a user, the infuser may be placed in an empty cup, with tea placed within the infuser, then hot water poured into the infuser so that the tea may steep in the hot water. After a desire period of time steeping, the infuser can be removed from the cup, allowing the tea to drain through the holes in the infuser but removing the loose tea with the infuser. The elastomeric base 70 can also function as a coaster for the infuser, holding the infuser and capturing any water or tea that may continue to drain from the infuser after removal from the cup. The infuser can then be cleaned and stored again within the container in the manner described above.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, as noted above, many changes can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is not limited by the disclosure of the preferred embodiment. Instead, the invention should be determined entirely by reference to the claims that follow. 

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:
 1. A tea keeper, comprising: a container having an outer wall and defining a container volume; an inner sleeve positioned within the container and forming an airtight barrier which separates the container volume into an internal space and a peripheral space; a removable lid enclosing the internal space; a removable base enclosing the peripheral space; and an infuser removably stored in the peripheral space.
 2. The tea keeper of claim 1, wherein the infuser further comprises infuser sidewalls extending upward from an infuser base to define an infuser volume, the infuser sidewalls terminating in an open rim.
 3. The tea keeper of claim 2, wherein the sleeve is received within the infuser volume when the infuser is stored in the peripheral space.
 4. The tea keeper of claim 3, wherein the infuser includes a pair of handles, each of the pair of handles being moveable between a stored position adjacent the infuser sidewalls and an extended position extending away from the infuser sidewalls.
 5. The tea keeper of claim 4, wherein the pair of handles are selectively lockable in the extended position.
 6. The tea keeper of claim 4, wherein the open rim of the infuser is flared outwardly.
 7. The tea keeper of claim 4, wherein the peripheral space further comprises a shoulder, the rim of the infuser abutting the shoulder when the infuser is stored in the peripheral space.
 8. The tea keeper of claim 7, wherein the internal diameter of the container is substantially equal to the outer diameter of the rim.
 9. The tea keeper of claim 7, wherein the peripheral space further comprises a height from the shoulder to the removable base, the infuser having an infuser height such that the infuser is snugly received within the peripheral space when the infuser is stored in the peripheral space.
 10. The tea keeper of claim 1, wherein the inner sleeve and the container are integrally formed.
 11. A tea keeper, comprising: a container defining a container volume; an inner sleeve positioned within the container and separating the container volume into an upper internal space and a lower peripheral space, the lower peripheral space surrounding the upper internal space, the inner sleeve further forming an airtight barrier between the lower peripheral space and the upper internal space; a removable lid attached to an upper end of the container and enclosing the upper internal space; a removable base attached to a lower end of the container and enclosing the lower peripheral space; and an infuser removably stored in the peripheral space.
 12. The tea keeper of claim 11, wherein the infuser further comprises infuser sidewalls extending upward from an infuser base to define an infuser volume, the infuser sidewalls terminating in an open rim, wherein the sleeve is received within the infuser volume when the infuser is stored in the lower peripheral space.
 13. The tea keeper of claim 12, wherein the infuser includes a pair of handles, each of the pair of handles being moveable between a stored position adjacent the infuser sidewalls and an extended position extending away from the infuser sidewalls.
 14. The tea keeper of claim 13, wherein the pair of handles are selectively lockable in the extended position.
 15. The tea keeper of claim 13, wherein the pair of handles are attached to the rim of the infuser.
 16. The tea keeper of claim 13, wherein the open rim of the infuser is flared outwardly.
 17. The tea keeper of claim 12, wherein the lower peripheral space further comprises a shoulder, the infuser being snugly received between the shoulder and the base when the infuser is stored in the lower peripheral space.
 18. The tea keeper of claim 12, wherein the infuser rim comprises an infuser diameter at a widest portion of the rim, wherein the infuser rim is snugly received within the container when the infuser is stored in the lower peripheral space.
 19. The tea keeper of claim 12, wherein the inner sleeve and the container are integrally formed. 